Chu Mai

We just experienced one of the most thoughtful, gracious and delightful dining experiences in Sac. From cocktail to dessert, it was complex, beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. We had a wonderful conversation with front of house, Michael Ng and received a history lesson and taster shots of a Vietnamese rice wine, Rượu đế, distilled locally by Dao distillery in Rancho Cordova, which as it turns out, is owned by a colleague of John, also a Professor at SCC! Professional waitstaff, clean kitchen, beautiful dining room and great ambiance. We will return to try everything on this menu.

We started out with some refreshing drinks and the asparagus appetizer, which was perfectly cooked and delicious. We shared two mains, the mushroom congee and the tofu dish (I forgot the name). The congee was good, but I think I’d have enjoyed it more if the weather was colder. The tofu dish was fantastic with a sweet turmeric sauce that was amazing. The atmosphere is great and we will be back.

This place reminds me of homemade comfort food. You walk into dim lighting inside yet the ambiance pops from the various artwork on the walls along with Asian decor throughout the restaurant. The food is made with attention to detail and the love can be tasted with each bite. Did I mention that there's also a full bar and a semi-private dining area? Hats off to Chef Bill Ngo for paying tribute to his late mother with opening Chu Mai. It's exquisite. Yum, and I'll be returning.

After finding out the minds behind Kru opened a new restaurant, I knew I had to put it on my radar. Me showed up with a party of 3 around 6 PM, and were quickly seated (word's not out to the point of a constant waitlist yet). The decor is nice and subtle; high ceilings, bright wood and brass tones contrasted with dark stone greys. The service, was as expected, great; the knowledgeable server got us up to speed on the course and serving size suggestions, and in another Kru holdover, I never ran out of water; having the extra support staff to fill cups and clear plates goes a long way. The drinks were well-crafted. The Ming River baiju service was very nice, coming ice-chilled with teeny glasses that portion the strong floral liquor just right. The cocktails were subtly flavored to avoid overpowering the food, and all came with fun little accent flairs (the chicken ring with the tiny paperclip was a hit). And of course, for the main event, the food was awesome. Everything's portioned for family style, so I suggest bringing a group and trying a little bit of everything. We started with the raw beef salad (like a delicious laab diip, something I haven't had in years!) which came with delicious shrimp crackers, the albacore crudo, and the wings. For the main course we got the braised pork belly (came out deliciously tender and the five spice was well-balanced when paired with rice) and the mushroom congee (heartwarmingly tasty with a medley of mushrooms giving the rice porridge a hearty umami flavor). I suggest getting an extra side of the Chinese donuts for the main course; they're kind of like unsugared churros, and they pair together well with pretty much everything. We finished up with a nice take on strawberry shortcake for desert while the staff kindle boxed up the little bit of leftover we had. When we got the bill, I was surprised; for the quality of the experience, I had been expecting it to be $50-$100 more than what it was. Final verdict is, Chu Mai is outstanding. Well-designed menu with fresh ingredients and balanced flavors, and the Kru-level service experience at a lower price point, you can't go wrong. Check this place out before word gets out; I'm sure that in a couple months, the only way you'll be able to get in is with a reservation.

Serve asian fusion food with a small menu. The chef smartly uses ingredients and tasty seasoning like mayonnaise, peanut, mint. We enjoyed all the three small plates we ordered (chili eggplants, asparagus salad, raw beef). The pork belly is salty but can make a perfect match with rice double the pork. There are random collections of asian decor to add to the fusion feel. Overall a good vibe.

Amazing new restaurant near the Ice Blocks in Sactown. The food was so delicious and the presentation was quite beautiful. The crab fried rice and egg tarts were 🔥.

I live very close by and watched in anticipation as the restraraunt was built out. The Wednesday before they opened I saw a package hidden by the door and people inside talking. I grabbed the box and knocekd on the door waviong it about. I believe the manager opened the door and I asked when theyw ere to open. I then joked that the box wasn't theirs and I only used it to get him to open the door. He laughed and I handded him the box... We were not able to go right awayt but did end up there and sat at the bar having a few drinks and appetizers... WOW! We had oysters and the crudo along with drinks. The crudo was exquisite and the oysers to die for. We were impressed by just how much the bartender knew about the food, flavors and the insipration of the restaraunt which is the owners mother. Being 1/2 asian, honoring your mother is important to me. I think she would be proud for sure. We returned for another round with neighbors. This time we revisted the crudo, had the Chu Mai wings, Chinese Donuts, and the Pork Pate Toast. I am nto sure how someone with a working tastgebud could give it less than 5 stars. Our goal is to return and sit for a proper dinner. I am SO blessed to have another asian gem within walking distance. Update - we keep returning as it is quickly becoimg a favorite spot for us. The last time were there with freinds, the group ordered the Pate. I am not a Pate fan so I let everyone else enjoy it. This time around it was just my wife and I. We ordered the Pate and oh my, I am now a fan! I am hoping for many years of good business for them. Adrian the bartender is knowledgable about the foods and the drinks are very good!

Good service, refilling water every minute (liked it lol), server explained everything on the menu/ how big the portion is. Very modern vibe- IG worthy type. Loved beef tartare so much. Everything else was good but they were so salty we couldn’t finish our meal. If they could put a little less salt, it would be perfect. We got beef tartare, brussel sprouts, fried rice with tofu, and braised pork.